(It’s alright, no worries! Moving is more important)
Gabriel tossed in his bed, groaning from the slight throbbing in his head. He didn’t have any dreams, nor was it a good night's sleep. He woke once in the middle of the night, wincing as pain coursed through his skull. This wound would be the death of him. Gabriel pulled the blanket back over his shoulders, closing his eyes. Sleep was hard to find. It didn’t want to come to his so easily, but he found it. He drifted off, this time dreaming about the cleaning of his wound. Gabriel winced in his sleep, gritting his teeth as the imaginary pain seared through his mind. He didn’t think he could do it two, maybe three times a day. However, he woke from his dream, light casting thin rays across the floor. Gabriel took deep breaths. Sleep had been both uncomfortable and soothing. He slipped out of bed, stretching his body. He slipped into the bathroom and did personal hygiene stuff before leaving the room altogether.
Gabriel walked into the sitting room, glancing at Azriel. So the demon did manage to fall asleep. Good for him. He wanted some coffee, or at least something to wake his mind. He didn’t want to infiltrate Azriel’s kitchen when the man wasn’t awake, so instead, he sat in an armchair. Gabriel rubbed his eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them. He wasn’t a morning person, but couldn’t stay in bed all morning either. He actually expected Azriel to be awake by now. He stared blankly at the wall, his mind going blank. Everything was fuzzy. Gabriel’s body tingled, and his hands were cold. Funny how he noticed all these things when given time to think. He blinked his eyes, glancing around at the light dowsing the sitting room. He thought it ethereal, but in this realm, Gabriel thought it silly.
Sleep was particularly kind to Azriel this night. If he dreamed, they were good dreams. Not that he would remember any of it when he did wake. He didn't move or shift much in his sleep, allowing his wounds to heal. And heal they did. By morning, the swell had gone down in his eye and it was ugly shades of green and yellow. It looked to to be in the last stages of it healing and would be completely healed in a nother day or so. His ribs, while better, were not as far along. It was a mix of faded purples and blues, the green starting to emerge. It was healing yes, but it would still be a longer journey. He would be able to move around a bit but he should still take it easy.
The morning sun filtered in through the blinds and shone on his face. Azriel made a face and tried to roll to escape the light. But not only did the movement hurt his ribs but the light followed him. There was no going back to sleep. His neck hurt from sleeping on one of the decorative pillows on the couch and his body was stiff. He usually slept on his side curled up or on his stomach. Sleeping on his back was new for him. His eyes fluttered open and it took a couple of blinks for his sight to clear. Then he noticed Gabriel sitting there, staring and he almost flinched back. Not because he was scared of him. He just hadn't been expecting Gabriel there. He had just been startled. He pushed up on his palms until he was in a sitting position. It wasn't comfortable to do but it hurt significantly less than yesterday. His curls were messier on his head. He hadn't been able to shower and care for them yet. He looked boyish here in the morning light. "Hi," he croaked out, his voice still riddled with sleep.
Gabriel gazed over at Azriel. The demon looked better than yesterday. At least his eye seemed better. He couldn’t comment on his ribs, but he hoped they were better. Gabriel noticed the hunger in the pit of his stomach spreading to his chest. He would feel bad invading Azriel’s kitchen, but he needed to eat. If the demon wasn't going to wake soon, he’d be on his own to scavenge the area. Gabriel jerked his head, noticing he was staring at Azriel. “Good morning.” He greeted the sleepy demon. It seemed he scared the demon slightly by sitting her. He wouldn’t blame him. Waking to see a guy sitting in an armchair you’ve only been living with for two days would startle a man. It would take a while to remember you suddenly shared your house. At least it would for Gabriel.
Gabriel blinked the last of the sleep out of his eyes. “Would you like me to make breakfast or do you want to? You seemed to be doing better. At least what I can see.” Azriel might want to rest longer or possibly would want to get on his feet. He left it up to Azriel. Gabriel crossed his legs, watching Azriel. Noticed how unkempt he appeared, especially the hair on his head. “If you can get up, maybe you’d like to take a shower and I can make breakfast?” He wouldn’t mind taking over breakfast duty while Azriel took care of himself. Self-care came first over other needs another person could take care of. Gabriel subconsciously moved his hair back, his mind still fuzzy. He struggled in the mornings, his mind refusing to function before 11 am. He tried his best, but sometimes it was fruitless.
Had this be any other circumstance, Azriel would be jumping up and running to his kitchen. He would have started on breakfast by now. But this wasn't a different circumstance. And as he looked down at himself, smelled himself, he realized a shower first was likely the smartest thing. And while he felt a bit uncomfortable with someone else in his kitchen while he would preoccupied and in a different room, there was no way he was going to walk around in this state. He didn't smell the best and he doubted his hair looked very good either. A shower sounded perfect. "Um yeah, that sounds okay to me. Supplies are in the pantry." He wasn't particularly picky about breakfast. He would eat just about any breakfast meal. And we'll, the only things in his house were things he liked so Gabriel coukd do no wrong with whatever he chose to make.
Slowly moving, Azriel got to his feet. It wasn't the most comfortable but it was manageable. There was a dull pain as he moved but nothing compared to the previous day. He gave Gabriel a small smile and said a quiet, "Thank you," before trudging out of the living room and into his bedroom. He struggled to take off his shirt, what with raising his arms, but he got there eventually. He looed at his reflection. His eye was an ugly color. Greens and yellows. But the swelling was gone and the colors meant it was healing. Looking at his chest, it was still blue and purple. The colors looked as those they were starting to fade and there was a bit of green poking through. It had been a big wound and it would take more than one night to fully heal. He might very well had fractured a rib but he wasn't so sure.
He finished shedding the rest of his clothing before stepping under the warm stream of his shower. He began to bath, taking extra care as he did so. He washed his hair, the steps taking him much longer to shower than if he didn't wash it. As he stepped out, the mirror was foggy with steam. He dried off best he could and dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a white shirt. He added product to his hair and grabbed his blow dryer. By the time he was done, his curls were nice and bouncy on his head. He smiled, pleased enough with his appearance. There want anything else to do about the bruising. He slowly walked back into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee while Gabriel cooked.
(My activity will kinda be spotty since it's the last 7 weeks of school)
Gabriel smiled. He didn’t mind making breakfast for the two of them. After all, he would most likely choose something simple. Simple worked, and everyone liked the simple breakfast most would have. “Alright. I’ll get to that. You work on your self-care.” He got up, his vision graying out. Gabriel stabled himself, placing a hand on the chair until his vision came back. The wound on the back of his head throbbed, spreading dull pain through his skull. A small wince came from him, but he smiled softly to hide his pain. Taking a deep breath, left the safety net that was the chair and headed into the kitchen. Gabriel grabbed a small skillet, a bowl, and a whisk. From the fridge, he grabbed eggs and from the pantry, he grabbed bread. He would make eggs and toast. It wouldn’t be too hard, and it was likely Azriel would like it. After all, he made it before.
So Gabriel got to work. He took two eggs and cracked them into the bowl, letting the egg yolk and white plop in. He threw away the shells and took a detour to wash his hands of the sticky egg white. Gabriel placed the pan on the stove, turned it on to medium heat, and put a pad of butter in the skillet to melt. He found some salt and pepper on the counter, taking a pinch of each and adding it to the eggs. Then he whisked it all together until the mixture was a light yellow. Gabriel poured the mixture into the skillet, letting it cook until solid. He turned the bread, taking out four slices. He found the toaster and plugged it into the socket. He popped two slices of bread in, waiting for them to pop back up. Gabriel turned back to the eggs, using a spatula to mix them around until they were completely cooked. He turned off the stove, grabbing two plates from a cabinet. He plated half the scrambled eggs onto one, and the other half onto the second.
Azriel shuffled in just as the toast finished toasting. He placed the two slices onto Azriel’s plate and buttered them. He then took a slice of bread and popped it into the toaster. While waiting, Gabriel put the eggs and bread back in their places. The toast pop up, and Gabriel placed it on his plate, buttering it as well. He unplugged the toaster and placed the two plates on the table. By now, Azriel should have picker up on the fact Gabriel ate smaller portions than Azriel did.
(That's okay. As long as you're able to reply at least once a day you're good. But I also understand exams and studying so don't stress too much. Just give me a heads up.)
Azriel looked much better, even with the bruises. The dark circles under his eyes, well eye, was almost gone. He had slept better than he had thought and the shower had done wonders. The pressure of the water had worked away any kinks in his neck and back and he certainly smelled much better. His hair was the biggest thing he was proud of. He had endured the pain it took to raise his arms to wash his hair and apply the products it needed. It took way too ling to care for his hair, the steps taking forever, but he did it because it looked nice. Occasionally he would just straighten his hair so it wouldn't need styling for the week or so. He just had to be careful not to get it wet.
Azriel replaces the coffee pot with a mug, needing his coffee asap. While the shower had certainly helped, he was still a little tired and needed that extra boost. He replaced the mug with pot as the mug had filled. He added his sugar and creamer because he believed anyone who drank it black was crazy. Black coffee was disgusting. Azriel looked at the two plates, noticing one had two peeves of toast and the other only had one. He raised his head to look at Gabriel. He was a big man, muscular, tall. How did he survive off of so little? How did his muscles survive off of so little nutrient? He needed more. So Azrieo promptly grabbed another price of bread and put it in the toaster. He wasn't going to give Gabriel a choice. Gabriek was going to eat whether he liked it or not. The man couldn't exercise, not with that head wound, so the only thing that would keep him healthy was the food he ate. Azriel made a mental note to start planning out the meals for the week. He would make sure they were healthier, a balance of veggies and protein. This man was going to eat if Azriel had to shave it down his throat.
When the toast was done, he confidently buttered ti and placed it on the plate that only jad one piece of bread. He raises his head to meet Gabriel's eyes, as if daring him ti say something or reject the bread. Because Azriel wasn't going to let that happen.
Gabriel stared at Azriel quietly, watching as the man popped another piece of toast into the toaster. He was a little confused about Azriel’s actions. Did the demon need a third piece to satisfy his hunger, or was something else at play? He could only wait for the toast to pop. Maybe then he would understand why the demon needed another piece of bread. Gabriel himself got full fast and preferred to eat smaller portions. It satisfied him until lunch, which was usually a larger portion than breakfast. Most of his daily calories came from lunch since he ate dinner very late. But as the toast popped, he witnessed Azriel butter it and place it on his plate. That didn’t make Gabriel very happy. It would screw up his food routine. With a sigh, he locked eyes with Azriel. “I don’t need the extra piece. I swear. I don’t usually eat a big breakfast, it's not necessary for my daily routine.” He knew challenging the demon would only lead to him eating the extra piece of toast, but Gabriel would stand his ground. He was stubborn like that. Even in Azriel’s care, he’d rather continue with his meal routine than Azriel’s meal routine. “A big breakfast just ruins my lunch portions.” Well, Gabriel’s entire schedule deviated from the typical American’s because of his line of work, so his view of routines, schedules, and plans was skewed.
Gabriel looked at his plate and then at Azriel. His hunger infested his brain, and instead of holding his ground, he grabbed a fork and sat down. He started to munch on a piece of toast. He would have to simply communicate his argument another way. Not eating the other piece of bread. Was Gabriel being petty like a toddler? Yes, he was. Should Azriel get used to this? Yep. Gabriel would be petty just to prove a point.
Azriel lifted an eyebrow at his words. He had a better counter. "A good start to your day starts with a healthy breakfast. You can't do that eating so little. Lunch doesn't need to be a big meal but breakfast does." He grabbed his own plate and sat down at the table, opposite of Gabriel. But he didn't eat just yet. He was watching Gabriel. He wanted to see if the man would actually eat the extra toast or not. "You're not a bartender now. You're a resident in my house until further notice. And my house is my rules. So you're going to eat that second piece of toast and you won't leave the table until you do." He didn't want to treat Gabriel like a child but if he was going to act like it, Azriel would treat him like it.
He raised his cup of coffee and took a small sip, blowing on ir as he burned his tongue. Not so smooth, burning himself on his coffee. Even the creamer hadn't been cold enough to cool off his coffee. It had been very fresh. Once the sting on his tongue soothed, he finally cut himself a piece of toast and shoved it and some eggs in his mouth. He didn't have anywhere to be today. So he could do this all day.
Gabriel stared Azriel down over the table. He took another bit of the first piece of toast, swallowing before responding to Azriel. “Healthy? Yes. A lot? No. A healthy breakfast can come in small portions. It doesn’t have to be so much.” He took another bit of toast. Gabriel took it slow, steadily staring at the demon. How long would it be before he cracked? Or more like how long before he ran out of pieces of toast to chew on subconsciously. He had finished the first piece, reaching for the second piece of toast, gnawing on it. “But I run on a routine, a plan per se. You are suggesting disrupting that schedule. It may be your house, your rules, but I will eat what I want. I am an adult, not a child for you to boss around.” Gabriel looked down at his plate. He was still slightly peckish, but didn’t want to finish his breakfast to prove a point. He stared at the eggs for a few minutes, looking back up at Azriel.
Gabriel pushed the plate away, swallowing harshly. He started to get a headache, the wound throbbing slightly. He wanted to go lay down, but Azriel wouldn’t let him leave the table, not without eating the eggs. Instead, he placed his head in his arms on the table, looking at Azriel. Discomfort took over, his face twitching. The dull pain annoyed him. “If I ate the eggs, would you let me go lay down? A headache is making me feel top-heavy.” He didn’t want to eat the eggs, but he figured the pros outweighed the cons.
Azriel sighed, looking at him. "And you still need a little more. Your body also needs to ingest a certain amount of calories a day. And unless you're eating a meal for two at lunch, I doubt you're making up for that." The last thing Gabirel needed was to loose weight. And Azriel wasn't just saying that because he thought Gabriel looked hot like this. Well, he did look hot but that wasn't the point of this conversation. It would be dangerous for the human to loose weight all of a sudden. "Then we'll make a new routine for you. Just while you're here. When you go back home you can go back to treating your body however you want. But whole you're here, I'll make the rules. You want your wound to heal yes? So you need to eat better. Staying healthy will help you heal quicker."
Azriel was now irritated. "I won't treat you like a child if you don't act like a child. And right now, you're acting like a child." He gestured at the plate Gabriel had just pushed away as proof. Though his annoyed expression faded into sympathy as the man lowered his head on the table and spoke again. Azriek sighed softly. He reached his hand over to gently olafe it on his arm, gently caressing it. "Go lay down," he said softly. "Take you're meds." Forget the eggs. For now. He make Gabriel a little extra at lunch ti make up for it. Maybe some fruit to gi with the sandwich.
Gabriel remained silent. He wasn’t consuming enough calories daily than he’d like to think. He tried his best, but he couldn’t keep it up. Gabriel had fallen into a vicious cycle concerning his health, but he didn’t seem to have enough time to care about it. He looked up at the demon, his brown eyes dull. “Fine. You can make a whole new meal plan for me. I want the wound to heal quicker. I want the pain to go away. If that means you have to make a meal plan for me, then fine.” He sighed. Gabriel struggled to even create a proper meal plan. It was difficult on a repeat cycle of waking, working, and sleeping. Maybe Azriel’s plans will give him a push to change his meals altogether. It might make him feel fuller, feel less tired.
Gabriel closed his eyes, groaning from the headache. Sure, he might be acting like a child. But if he didn’t want to eat something, he wasn’t going to let a man he met recently shove it down his throat. Gabriel stood, nearly toppling before he found his center of balance. He found his meds, taking two of them before stalking over to the sitting room. He lay on the couch, closing his eyes as the pound in his head grew stronger.
Azriel gave him a sympathetic look. Gabriel needed to eat more, eat better. He was going to make sure he dis.in the little time they had together. At least he wouldn't feel guilty while they rooming together. He would plan it out later, when Gabriel was napping or soemthung. He would start planning for a week at a time what he would make. He would dictate the portions to make sure they both ate enough. There was a reason he was prickly about the food. He remembered what it was like to go hungry, ti be starving. He would never allow that to happen again. He took care of his body.
Azriel was up in an instant as Gabriel stumbled while trying to get up. It jarred his ribs and sent a wave of pain but he pushed it aside. Gabriel matter more. He was putting his arm around around his waist, helping steady him. "I've got you," he murmured. He assisted Gabriek over to the couch, giving him an exasperated look as the human insisted getting his own meds. Azriel would have gotten them for him. He made sure that Gabriel was settled down on the couch before going to get a rag drenched in cold water and a glass of ice water. He placed the glass on the coffee table and put the rag on his forehead. He crouched by Gabriel's side, ignoring his own pain, and brushed back the man's hair, being conscious of his wounds.
Gabriel winced slightly, taking a deep breath. He was getting tired of the wound on the back of his head. It pained him. If anything even grazed it, the pain spread throughout his head. He leaned against Azriel, letting him lead him over to the couch. Gabriel’s head spun, the pain worsening. He was glad to be laying, rubbing his face while grumbling to himself. A shiver ran through his body when the cold compress was draped on his forehead. It helped soothed the pain slightly. However, he noticed Azriel was still by his side, brushing his hair gently. “I’m alright, Azriel. You don’t have to stay by my side. I can take care of myself.” Gabriel wasn’t rejecting the company. In fact, an unexplainable feeling filled his chest, knowing Azriel would rather take care of him than do something else. He was an adult. Azriel didn’t need to do anything, but yet he still did.
This brought a slight blush to Gabriel’s cheeks. He could cycle through these thoughts again. Yes, he wouldn’t deny he liked Azriel as a person. He didn’t have to help him, but he did. Gabriel didn’t allow his mind to wonder about other feelings. Other thoughts he might have developed purely because of how Azriel treated him. He didn’t know what was happening to him, and he didn’t want to dwell on it.
Azriel grabbed the throw blanket he had used the night before and placed it over Gabriel. He had been shivering due to the cold compress and hadn't wanted to make him cold. He just thought the cool rag might help with the headache. He placed one hand on his head, the soft caressing turning into a gentle massage. He knew there was nothing that could be done about a headache. Once the medicine was taken, it was just time then. They would have to wait until it went away. The cold compress might help relieve some of the pain but wouldn't make it disappear. Sleeping always helped Azriel work it off. If the pain could dissipate just enough for Gabriel to fall asleep, then it would be alright.
He quirked a small smile. "But you don't need to take care of yourself. Let me help you. I want to." His fingers left his scalp briefly to grab the glass of water and offer it to Gabriel. "Try sipping a little bit." He held up near his lips. If Gabriel refused, he would set it down. But Gabriel needed to hydrate and he hoped that he would take it from Azriel.
Gabriel settled into the couch, letting his muscled relax and loosen. The blanket was an added weight. It generated heat quickly, and he liked that. It helped him melt into a peaceful place. The headache still persisted. It would until the medicine actually kicked in. Gabriel leaned into Azriel’s hand. His touch was soft. It was always so gentle and inviting. Better than any contact he’d had with another person in the last week. The cold compress quickly became room temperature, and at that point, it was uncomfortable. He squeezed his eyes closed, a spike of unbearable pain infiltrating his skull. Headaches were awful. Gabriel hatted them. He slept on the painful ones, shutting off all noise and closing all blinds.
Gabriel waved a hand, opening his eyes to look at the demon. “I should be taking care of myself. I’m an adult. What would I do if I got sick? I have no one to call.” Well, he had his mother, but that was beside the point. His mouth twitched, feeling the glass edge of the cup resting on it. He tilted his head up, taking a small sip before declining the rest. Gabriel and Azriel’s relationship had already developed quite a bit, and it had only been a few days.
Azriel removed the wash towel as he felt it warm. He couldn't imagine that it would be all that comforting while warm. Perhaps he would get a fresh one later but he didn't want to leave Gabriel's side. Not yet at least. He wanted to stay here until the headache dissipated or Gabriel fell asleep. Whichever one was to occur. And even then he would probably take a seat in one of his accent chairs. He didn't want to go far in case Gabriel needed something. Staying in the living room was the best choice for that. He'd might grab a book and settle into the chair while he waited. A book sounded nice.
Azriel grabbed the hand that Gabriel tried to wave him off with and gently lowered it back to the couch. "It's okay to have someone help take care of you." He gave him a small smile. "And this isn't being sick. This is a result of an injury. So let me help you." Speaking of, the wound would need to ve cleaned soon but he would let the headache go away first. He didn't want to make things worse.
Gabriel breathed a sigh when the warm towel was removed. It wasn’t soothing or refreshing, it was like sweat beading down one’s forehead. His eyes drooped, heavy with sleep. But Gabriel didn’t want to sleep, there was much he could do to consume daylight hours than sleep. His mind raced, thoughts consuming entirely. Many were concerned with his role within this home, others were infiltrated with his love for Azriel. No, he couldn’t dwell on this again. It wasn’t happening. He was some guy who just wanted to help. End of story. However, it was never the end of the story. Gabriel breathing quickened over this, the headache worsening before the pain receded as the medicine kicked in. Thoughts and feelings were too much for him. It was better not to display them at all. Only then would peace come to his mind.
Gabriel blushed as Azriel grabbed his hand. This demon was quite persistent in his stance, and it made Gabriel infatuated with him. This was quite dangerous if Azriel wanted rid of him after the month, to never see Gabriel again. He chewed on his lip, his tongue pushing out his bottom lip. “Fine. I will let you help me. I will let you.” He paused. “Tend for me.” He was wide awake, his pain finally receding into little spurts of dull pain.
Azriel couldn't help but smile down at him. A soft gaze with a genuine smile. What was happening to him? The only smiles he used to give were flirty ones when he was trying to get laid at the bar or the ones he gave his Master, but that was something entirely different. That was…well that was the Master. This was Gabriel. And despite somewhat of a prickly start, Gabriel was kind. He had done his best to help Azriel after his injury. Gabriel had cooked for hik and cleaned. There was no one that Azriel trusted in his kitchen yet he trusted Gabriel. His heart was fluttering. Why was it fluttering? He wasn't supposed to feel this way. He was never supposed to feel this way towards anyone other than the king. Master was supposed to have his full loyalty. It was why Azriel never let himself get truly close to anyone. He knew what happened if he did. It was fear and affection battling inside him and he didn't know what was going to win.
How was he supposed to return Gabriel home in a month and then never see him again? Azriel didn't think he could do it. Atheist not without a little heartbreak. He had let himself get attached and he was going to pay the price for it soon. And yet his smile widened more as he noticed the faint blush. Gabriel could very well be flushed from his headache but Azriel didn't think so. He also didn't release his hand either. He chuckled ever so quietly. "Yes, sir," he said teasingly.
Gabriel looked up at Azriel, a small smile crossing his face. He had an inherent instinct to reach up and stroke his cheek with his thumb. No no, he couldn’t do that. He couldn’t let his feelings get too far. He shuffled slightly, his body restless as he tried to put these thoughts past him. Gabriel was fixated on Azriel’s face, swallowing harshly. His heart pounded against his chest, a fuzzy feeling washing over him. He hadn’t felt this — love-struck since the death of his girlfriend. He slowly grew to trust Azriel — and Gabriel rarely trusted anyone. The pain in his head subsided, giving him peace. Well, peace from the pain, not from himself. He sighed, diverting his eyes from Azriel before looking at him again. Should he tell him? No. No matter what relief it would give him, it was a little crush. Nothing long-lasting.
Gabriel would have to go home. He could * not * stay here. He did not belong here. He could never live a satisfying life here. If Gabriel wasn’t allowed outside the confines of Azriel’s house without being killed, then he would never be happy. He was human and nothing could be done to change that. He sighed, the blush on his face growing redder since Azriel never let go of Gabriel’s hand. “Um — my head stopped hurting.” Gabriel cleared his throat, collecting his composure.
Azriel was getting attached. That wasn't good. He couldn't get attached. Azriel had never let himself get attached again. Sure, he soaked up whatever affection his friends gave him, whatever affection he was given by his sexual partners, but at the end of the day, they all knew it wasn't anything real. None of it was ever real. They were using each other for the things they needed. Azriel, to feed, them for the pleasure. And then they went about their days as if there was nothing there because there wasn't. But there was something here. And that was dangerous. Being infatuated was dangerous. And it was something his Master certainly wouldn't be pleased with. He couldn't show it. He could never show it, not anywhere outside of the confines of these walls. Because he would know, he always knew somehow. It was a good thing Azriel was a master at hiding his feelings.
Azriel still hadn't released his hand. He was still holding Gabriel's hands in his, their callouses rubbing against each other. Each of them had callouses for very different reasons. Azriel because of the weapons he held, Gabriel because of the bartending he did. Two very different worlds and yet they resulted in similar outcomes. The callouses on their hands and minds. Azriel blinked, taking a second to recognize the words. "Oh, that's good." He was still holding his hand. Why was he still holding on? Just let go. But he never did. "Guess I grabbed the right medications after all," he laughed. " Are you hungry, thirsty? Or do you need help getting to your room?"
Gabriel had to admit to himself first before he could ever say anything. Ugh, feelings were complicated and unmoving. He craved the affection, the attention. It's unlike anything he’s ever felt, but he had to keep these emotions sealed off. Taking a deep breath, Gabriel readjusted himself, letting his head rest on the arm of the couch. “You should go rest yourself. I bet your ribs hurt.” In reality, he wanted Azriel to move away from him. He needed to gather his mind, and with the demon by his side, it was not happening. How was he going to get through the next 3 and a half weeks? It was going to be hell, at least for Gabriel. Possibly Azriel too, but the demon seemed good at hiding his infatuation — well, while fed that was. The wound on the back of his head needed desperate attention. It hadn’t been cleaned for a good 8 hours, letting bacteria creep its way into the healing wound. It was still red, but the pain had reduced greatly.
Gabriel squeezed Azriel’s hand. “Oh no, I’m good. I don’t need to be moved. But that wound atop my head should be cleaned. I want to get it over with.” Memories of last night played in his head. The sting of the alcohol was unpleasant and bound to happen again. He bit his bottom lit, already feeling the sting upon his head. And he had to do this again in the evening? Horrific.
Now that he had mentioned it, Azriel's ribs were hurting. But that sharp pain from earlier had dulled into a throbbing. It wasn't as bad and much more manageable than before. He coukd deal with the pain. His eye was feeling better still. Over breakfast, the bruises had faded just a bit more. He still had full function if both eyes but if he blinked too hard it would hurt his injured eye. "I'm alright," he said gently. "Don't worry about me. I heal faster remember?" Just another reality of how different they were. That they belonged to two different worlds. Azriel had to look away for a moment at the reminder. However, his attention was caught again as Gabriel squeezed his hand.
He returned the small gesture, nodding at his isntence to stay on the couch. Azriel coukd relate to that. He had done as much the day before. "I don't want to hurt you more," he pursed his lips. "Your headache only just went away. I don't want to cause it again." As much as he knew the wound needed to be cleaned, he didn't want to hurt Gabriel.
Gabriel yawned, the morning light settling over him. It highlighted his chocolate brown eyes, reflecting off his blonde eyelashes. His own pain become more manageable — thanks to the meds Azriel gave him. He wanted to get the painful part over with, but he didn’t think the demon would let up. “If you say so.” He sighed, wanting Azriel to take a break himself. Gabriel couldn’t force the demon to leave his side. He didn’t know why the demon insisted on staying. Well, yes he knew, but he pretended he didn’t know. IT would be wiser to pretend he didn’t know, to stay ignorant of the changing situation between the demon and human. The changing feelings that should have never developed. Would they end up together? Or bury the feelings deep down to avoid heartache? Only time would tell.
Gabriel smiled, squeezing Azriel’s hand once again. Maybe everything would be alright and work out, but that was wishful thinking. “You won’t hurt me further. It’s important, remember? You insisted we need to clean it two times a day, so I didn’t get a nasty infection.” He looked into Azriel’s eyes. “It’ll be fine. If something gets worse, just move me to my bed. Just because hurt doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be done.” Gabriel closed his eyes, letting his blonde hair flop in his face. Everything would be fine.
Azriel only smiled. "I do say so." He glanced down, noticing they were still holding each other's hand. Neither of then had leg go yet. Neither of them made a move to let go. No, Azriel had only shifted so he was sitting on the floor rather than kneeling, as if making it clear he wasn't moving from this spot. His heart fluttered, beating fast. What did this mean? Was Gabriel having the same thoughts as he was? This was dangerous and exciting and new. He knew better. Azriel knew he shouldn't even entertain this. But Gabriel was contained to his house. And in a month's time Gabriel would return to the human world and it would all over. Master would never find out. There was no way he would.
Azriel made a face. He still didn't like the idea of it. Gabriel needed to rest after that awful headache, not potentially start a new one. He could only imagine how awful the pain was. And he didn't want to get up. Getting up meant letting go of his hand.
Gabriel closed his eyes, the sun infiltrating his vision. “Alright then.” He murmured, feeling the pull from Azriel sitting on the ground. So he was adamant. He squeezed Azriel’s hand hard. Gabriel didn’t want to let go. He wanted to feel the affection, to hang on forever. His pulse beat against his throat, making it hard for him to concentrate. It was disruptive and only strengthened when Azriel came near. Gabriel took a deep breath, wanting to hold Azriel near. He didn’t want to go home suddenly. He wanted to stay with Azriel. No. What was he thinking? He should go home, he needed to go home. Gabriel couldn’t stay here. It was too dangerous for his well being. He could be murdered as Azriel put it, beheaded by a monster.
Gabriel rolled onto his side, opening his eyes to look down at Azriel. Did he disapprove of Gabriel's decision to clean the wound? Apparently so. It would be like getting a husky to do something it doesn’t want to. And Azriel was a husky. “Azriel?” He spoke softly. “Do you think, theoretically, I would be able to live in this world where I’m not alone?” And working that bartending job. It ruined his hands.
(Ahaha I love that comparison. A husky XD)
Azriel propped his chin up on the cushion after a moments hesitation. The act brought their faces close together. He could feel Gabriel's breath blowing on him. But Gabriel hadn't sent him away. He hadn't even let go of his hand. He had only held onto it harder. And Azriel was beginning to believe that Gabriel had the same affections for him and Azriel did for him. Wiggling his hand free of Gabriel's grip, he changed the position of their hands, lacing their fingers together. This was okay, hopefully. Azriel prayed he wasn't reading the situation wrong. He reached out his free hand and tucked back the strands of hair that had fallen into Gabriel's face. But that hand quickly returned to his side at the question.
Azriel didn't think this was a theorical question. He pulled his bottom lip between his teeth, looking away. "No, I don't think you can," he finally said in a quiet voice. "You will never see another human here. And maybe, with time, I coukd introduce another demon to you but it will always be a risk."
Gabriel smiled. His body's visceral reaction would be to lean in closer, but he didn’t. He didn’t want Azriel to be uncomfortable. His heart thumbed in his throat, his body twitching as he stared in Azriel’s eyes. “I-um-'' A blush enveloped his face, letting go of Azriel’s hand as he wiggled his hand free. But once their fingers were laced together, he clamped down harder on Azriel’s hand. Gabriel closed his eyes, a smile crossing his face. He pulled the Azriel’s hand closer to his chest, his breathing slowing. His cheek twitched as Azriel tucked stray pieces of blonde hair behind his ear. He opened his eyes, scanning over every single detail on Azriel’s face. Gabriel would never admit out loud - well, maybe he would - that Azriel was pretty. Very pretty. He readjusted his body, moving into a position that was comfortable.
Gabriel cleared his throat. That was a reality he thought he could face. “The problem.” He reached his free hand towards Azriel’s face. “Is that I don’t see other humans anyway - besides work where I’m forced to interact. Plus I like risk” He giggled, but the sad reality is that he could never remain here. No matter his attachment or feelings about Azriel, it could never happen. Never. He had to keep that in mind.
Azriel was so far in deep. He was in trouble. Big trouble. He was attached, as much as he didn't want to admit it. But it was month right? He could allow this for one month before taking Gabriel home. It would be alright. No one would ever know. His heart soard as Gabriel tucked their clasp hands against his chest. Azriel squeezed his hand tight, smiling at him with a soft expression. This right here was heaven. He wanted to stay in this moment forever. He wanted to hold on and never let go. But he knew, he knew it would have to end eventually. Azriel blushed softly as Gabriel opened his eyes and looked at him. There was soemthung jn the humans gaze that made him feel flustered and hot inside. This was strange and different an exciting. He almost liked the thrill of the risk of being caught. Though he knew he would never risk Gabriel's life more than necessary.
Azriel's smile turned sad. They both knew that Gabriel couldn't stay here. It wasn't safe. It wasn't any way to live. "You can't," he finally said. "You can't stay here. You have dreams remember? A business you want to start. You can't do that here. You will only suffer." Azriel hesitated before knocking his nose against Gabriel's in a gentle affection.
Gabriel’s feelings flurrished, bubbling to the surface. He was entirely infatuated and never wanted it to stop. He didn’t want to leave in a month. He wanted to stay with Azriel forever. Gabriel had no one back at home. He was purely alone. He held Azriel’s hand closely to his chest, his knees drawing up to protect the demon's hand over his beating heart. He was in bliss. Gabriel didn’t know everything. Came about, but he never wanted it to end. He was never going to let go, no matter the demon’s protests: Gabriel stared at Azriel’s lips for a long while, noting how soft they looked. He had never felt so — timeless. So affectionate. “I don’t want to let go.” He whispered, closing his eyes. The flurry of emotions was too much for him. He just wanted Azriel’s comfort, attention. Gabriel wanted to risk his life for Azriel’s happiness. He wanted to risk the death sentence of being caught. He was a bold man, not one to tuck his head and go out as a coward. Gabriel would fight for himself and his infatuation.
Gabriel frowned. Part of him wanted to go home, but a big pet of him wanted to stay. He didn’t mind the living conditions. It wasn’t as bad as his old apartment. “Dreams? Azriel’s, I can't do it in the human world either. I gave up on my dream a while ago. I have nothing.” He whined. “I have nothing back home.” Gabriel went silent. They were so close. His instincts told him to kiss the other. No. Even if his body was inclined to the idea, he still didn’t kiss him.
Azriel's gaze dropped from Gabriel's eyes down to his lips. He wanted to kiss him. He had a strong desire to lean in and just kiss him. He could already imagine how wonderful it would be. The sparks that would fly, the butterfly that would flutter. His heart softened more as GBriel curled in around their clasped hands. Had there been enough space, Azdiel would have already tried to climbing his embrace. But as big as his couch was, neither of then would fit very well lying down together. Gabriel was more muscular and took up more space. Not that Azriel was complaining but it wouldn't allow him to lie there with ease. "I don't want you to let go either," he admited. He never wanted to be let go. In fact, he wanted to be held more. Azriel loved to be held. He loved touch. Azriel raised a hand to cup his cheek as Gabriel closed his eyes. His fingers brushed against the skin, offering affection. This was almost perfect. It was only missing one thing.
Azriel shook his head. "This isn't a life for you. You might enjoy it for a time but eventually you'll come to resent it. You can't stay here. You don't belong here." His voice broke as he said the words. He would love for Gabriel to stay. He would love the company. He would likely come to love the man. But he just couldn't. If anyone found out he was in love with someone, much less a human, the consequences would be catastrophic. His gaze dropped once more. "Let us enjoy this time we have together. We can deal with the rest when we get there." And then he leaned forward and kissed him.
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